Uttarakhand had been an all-time favourite, until its mountains began to feel increasingly invaded, forests giving way to wider roads, easier access and the constant expansion that comes with popularity. The mountains still have the power to stop you in your tracks, but there is a certain sadness in watching the landscape change in the name of wider roads, easier access. Perhaps that is why a weekend in the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats felt like such a pleasant surprise.

I had not heard much about Saputara before visiting it and perhaps that is precisely its charm. The drive itself is reason enough to make the journey. As the city gives way to the Western Ghats, the landscape unfolds in an astonishing variety of green… forests, rolling hills, mist-covered stretches and sudden waterfalls. For anyone living in a city starved of greenery, it is an almost therapeutic overdose of nature.

But Saputara is not only about the hills, it is also a quiet corner for spiritual travel. It can work as a base for exploring several important religious sites in the region, including Shirdi and the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple near Nashik, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. There is also the Unnai Mata Temple, known for its hot spring, and the Saptashringi Devi Temple, dedicated to Saptashrungi Nivasini.

Perhaps the biggest luxury here is that you don’t have to do too much. I stayed at Radisson Hatgad Saputara and what stood out was that the property seemed to understand the destination’s strongest selling point: its landscape. Spread across acres of green, the property has been designed around the existing terrain. The management told us that rocks removed during construction were reused within the property and minimal trees were cut and in return many more were planted. The approach was to retain as much of the existing greenery as possible and to add more. Every room opens out to expansive views of the hills and the green plains.

And then there is the road. A narrow highway runs right in front of the property and while it makes access convenient, it also made me wonder how long these roads and green patches will remain as they are if tourism continues to grow. Having watched the hills of more popular destinations change dramatically with increasing infrastructure, that thought stayed with me.

There is something particularly distinctive about the mountains of Saputara: they don’t feel intimidating or distant. They almost seem approachable, as though you could simply walk towards them and understand them a little better… and trust me, the silence helps.

At night, the sound of rain hitting the roof became a kind of lullaby. There is no compulsion to rush out, find the next attraction or constantly check your phone. The idea seems to be to sit, look at the horizon and let time pass which is a rare luxury for anyone accustomed to city life.

The fact that the property is entirely vegetarian initially sounds like it could be a limitation but in the context of a slow getaway, it begins to make sense. Meals use millets and seasonal produce, complementing the larger idea of slowing down rather than indulging in excess.

One of the more unusual experiences was a sound-healing session. I have attended several such sessions before, but this one felt different. Singing bowls were placed on different parts of the body, allowing the vibrations to travel through you, followed by individual Reiki sessions. I wouldn’t describe it in terms of medical or therapeutic claims, but as an experience of stillness, it worked for me. Despite not having slept enough, I left feeling unusually calm and centred. Perhaps the experience would have been even more immersive in an open setting, surrounded by the hills rather than within a room.

There are signs that Saputara is beginning to attract more attention. Hospitality groups are investing in the region, and the nearby Chandon India property, now acquired by Sula Vineyards, is expected to see further development. But what surprised me most was not the new hospitality infrastructure, it was the number of people I saw enjoying the hills… families and groups from both Gujarat and Maharashtra, many simply picnicking and spending time outdoors. It made me wonder whether Saputara has remained relatively under the radar because the people who know it have quietly preferred it that way.

There is something valuable about a destination that hasn’t yet been over-discovered and that perhaps is the real appeal of Saputara.

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